News

D.M. Bowman was proud to deliver and hand over the keys of a 2016 Volvo tractor and trailer to the James Rumsey Technical Institute Truck Driver Training Center yesterday morning. We believe that our company, the industry, and the public at-large are all better off with safe drivers out on the road, and that all starts with their learning and training! Best of luck to all the drivers who will learn and develop their driving skills with this beauty!

On Thursday, April 19 at 3:00am,  a D.M. Bowman Driver named Scott (last name being withheld for privacy) was driving on the highway and came upon a drunk driver.  This driver was weaving from side to side on the interstate and hit the guard rails several times. The driver, after striking the guard rail for the third time, stopped on the shoulder of the road.

Scott and 2 other truck drivers boxed the drunken driver in so that he was not able to continue to drive. Scott immediately called 911 to their location and waited for the State Police to show up.

The impaired driver never had his car in park; his foot was on the brake and the driver eventually passed out. When the police arrived the driver was awaken and he took his foot off the brake. The car started moving towards Scott’s truck which was in front of this drivers vehicle. The state trooper ended up jumping into the passenger side of the drunken drivers car and threw it into park.

We believe that Scott’s actions may have saved lives, including the life of the impaired driver. Thanks to Scott, the two other truck drivers, and the state police officer for helping keep motorists safe on the highway!

Did you know that D.M. Bowman, Inc. has an internship program? We partner with local schools to work with students and build their experience in the transportation & logistics field. Watch the video below of our current intern, Kattie, as she tells us how she first became interested in a career in transportation and how she has grown in her skill set through her time at D.M. Bowman, Inc.!

D.M. Bowman, Inc. began in 1959 when Don Bowman climbed into his used B 61 Mack tractor and trailer to haul coal. Don operated the tractor and trailer as an owner-operator with the dream of one day having 10 trucks. To this day, we have grown to being a transportation fleet that employs over 450 drivers. With the new year, we are excited to be celebrating 60 years of quality business!

In 2014, the Jone Bowman Customer Service Award was established to acknowledge an individual employee who demonstrates outstanding customer service and personal attention to develop and maintain relationships with customers. Customers are defined as internal to the organization and external customers.

Most importantly the award is in memory of Jone Bowman, an inspirational leader in the trucking industry and to us at D.M. Bowman Inc.

The criteria for nominations are one or more of the following:
• Demonstrates outstanding Customer Service in support of D. M. Bowman, Inc. goals
• Provides excellent customer service every day
• Exceeds expectations of a customer by providing exceptional service
• Exceptional service witnessed by others
• Has effectively corrected something that has gone wrong for a customer
• Recognizes and works well with all departments and customers
• Demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness

The award is presented twice a year which includes a company driver who is nominated and chosen for the award in the Spring and then a non-driver in the Fall.

This year’s nominee started out in the recruiting department and now works in our brokerage department.

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the Jone Bowman Customer Service Award for 2018 is Tina Brown. Tina has been described as professional, courteous, creative, quick to respond, resourceful, a problem solver and someone that has that “Carry Through” attitude. Tina has been with the company for over 5 years, starting in the recruiting department and now working in our brokerage department.

Tina received a framed certificate and a net check of $1000.00. Congratulations Tina!

2019 Per Diem Voucher 

2019 Per Diem Handout

2019 Per Diem Brochure

Per Diem is a payment to an employee under an accountable expense reimbursement allowance that is:

• Paid for business expenses the employer reasonably anticipates will be incurred by an employee for travel away from home for Meals and incidental Expenses
• A fixed amount is awarded instead of reimbursing actual meals and incidental expenses with no receipts required.
• All amounts paid under an accountable plan are: Tax free, are not reported on Form W-2 and are not subject to income or employment taxes
• Anyone who travels out of town overnight for work is allowed to claim per diem.
• A driver must be working away from home for at least 12 hours. This refers to the day a driver starts and ends their travel.
• Within a reasonable amount of time the driver must substantiate “Time, Date, and Place,” business connection and purpose of travel. A drivers HOS log provides the required substantiation.

New tax laws in 2018 brought changes to Per Diem which all drivers should be aware of:

• company drivers are no longer allowed to deduct Per Diem as an itemized deduction when filing their year end taxes.
• Only drivers who participate in a company sponsored program, like Omnitracs Per Diem Manager, can take advantage of the substantial tax benefits that come with Per Diem.

Things to Remember:

• A driver who is out of town overnight may receive one $66 meals & incidental expense reimbursement up to 7 times per week.
• A driver must depart for an overnight trip before 12:00 noon to be awarded Per Diem on the first day away from home, and return home after noon to be awarded Per Diem on the last day away from home.
• Per Diem is awarded when traveling a least 25 miles away from your tax home zip code.
• IRS-required “Time, Date and Place” substantiation is retained and accessible to a driver for 7 years.
• Per Diem Manager is provided as a benefit to company drivers at no cost to the driver.
• Owner Operators per diem is not calculated in payroll. It is compiled for an end of year reporting.